Real Estate CE Requirements by State (2026): Hours, Deadlines and Required Courses
Real estate continuing education (CE) requirements range from 7 hours a year to 45 hours per renewal, depending on your state. Most states ask for 12 to 30 hours every two or three years, with a few required topics such as fair housing, ethics or a state law update. The table below shows every state’s requirement for an active salesperson renewal, and each state links to its full CE page with approved courses.
Updated October 2026. Every figure comes from that state’s real estate commission or licensing agency; each state page lists its official sources.
Real estate CE requirements by state
| State | CE hours | Renewal cycle | Key requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15 | 2 years (Sept. 30, even years) | 3-hr Risk Management + 12 electives |
| Alaska | 20 | 2 years (Jan. 31, even years) | 8-hr core + 12 electives |
| Arizona | 24 | 2 years | 3 hrs in each of 6 categories; 1 hr each Firewise, Deed Fraud, AZ Water |
| Arkansas | 7 | Every year (Dec. 31) | Starts at your second renewal |
| California | 45 | 4 years | 18 hrs consumer protection; ethics, agency, trust fund, fair housing, risk management, implicit bias |
| Colorado | 24 | 3 years | Three Annual Commission Updates (12 hrs) + 12 electives |
| Connecticut | 12 | 2 years | 3-hr CT Real Estate License Law + 9 electives |
| Delaware | 21 | 2 years | Seven required 3-hr modules |
| Florida | 14 | 2 years | 3 hrs Core Law, 3 hrs Ethics, 8 specialty |
| Georgia | 36 | 4 years | 3 hrs License Law |
| Hawaii | 20 | 2 years (Nov. 30, even years) | 6 hrs core + 14 electives |
| Idaho | 2 core courses + 12 | Each renewal | Two Commission core courses you haven't taken before + 12 elective hours |
| Illinois | 12 | 2 years (Apr. 30, even years) | 6-hr Core + 6 electives incl. sexual harassment prevention |
| Indiana | 12 | Every year (July 1 to June 30) | Managing broker CE if you hold that eligibility |
| Iowa | 36 | 3 years | 8-hr Law Update + 4-hr Ethics + 24 electives |
| Kansas | 12 | Each renewal | 3-hr Kansas Required Core |
| Kentucky | 12 | 2 years | 6 in the first year; 6 in real estate law; KY Core every 4 years |
| Louisiana | 12 | Every year (Dec. 31) | Annual LREC mandatory topic |
| Maine | 21 | Each renewal | 3-hr mandatory core course |
| Maryland | 15 | Each license term | Legislative update, fair housing, ethics, agency + electives |
| Massachusetts | 12 | Each license term | Six different 2-hr modules |
| Michigan | 18 | 3 years | Each year: 2 hrs law + 1 hr fair housing |
| Minnesota | 30 | 24 months | 15 in the first 12 months; agency and fair housing each period |
| Mississippi | 16 | 2 years | Up to 8 hrs in Commission-required subjects |
| Missouri | 12 | 2 years | 3-hr core (Fair Housing for 2026–2028) |
| Montana | 12 | Every year (Oct. 31) | Real estate related courses |
| Nebraska | 18 | 2 years | 12 hrs approved CE incl. 6 in "R" courses |
| Nevada | 36 | 2 years | Agency, contracts, ethics, law, risk reduction; 18 hrs live |
| New Hampshire | 15 | 2 years | 3-hr core + 12 electives |
| New Jersey | 12 | 2 years | 6 core hrs incl. ethics, fair housing, agency |
| New Mexico | 36 | 3 years | 4-hr NMREC Core every year, 4 hrs ethics, 4-hr core elective |
| New York | 22.5 | 2 years | Fair housing, implicit bias, cultural competency, ethics, legal updates, agency |
| North Carolina | 8 | Every year (June 10) | 4-hr Update + 4-hr elective |
| North Dakota | 12 | Each cycle (Nov. 15) | Electives of your choice (2025–2026 cycle) |
| Ohio | 30 | 3 years (by your birthday) | 3 hrs each civil rights, core law, ethics |
| Oklahoma | 30 | Each renewal | 13 required hrs incl. contracts, conduct, fair housing |
| Oregon | 30 | Each renewal | 2-hr Fair Housing + Law and Rule Required Course |
| Pennsylvania | 14 | 2 years (May 31, even years) | Commission-set mandatory topics |
| Rhode Island | 24 | 2 years | 3 hrs Core-Fair Housing + 6 core |
| South Carolina | 10 | 2 years | 4-hr core + 6 electives |
| South Dakota | 24 | 2 license years | 12 hrs in required subject areas |
| Tennessee | 16 | 2 years | 6-hr TREC Core + 10 electives |
| Texas | 18 | 2 years | Legal Update I & II + 3 hrs contracts + 7 electives |
| Utah | 18 | Each renewal cycle | 9 core hrs incl. a 3-hr mandatory course |
| Vermont | 16 | Each renewal | 4-hr mandatory course |
| Virginia | 16 | 2 years | 11 required hrs (ethics, fair housing, legal, agency, contracts) |
| Washington | 30 | 2 years | 3-hr Current Issues + fair housing |
| West Virginia | 7 | Every year (renewal opens May 1) | Seven approved hours |
| Wisconsin | 18 | 2 years (Dec. 14, even years) | 12 mandatory + 6 elective |
| Wyoming | 45 | 3 years | 24 required + 21 elective |
Hours are for an active salesperson (or the state’s entry-level license) renewing after the first renewal. Brokers often need more, such as a broker management or supervision course.
How real estate CE cycles work
Every state ties CE to its license renewal, but the timing varies widely:
- Every year: Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Montana, North Carolina and West Virginia require CE annually.
- Every two years: the most common cycle, used by Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, Virginia and many others.
- Every three years: Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio and Wyoming.
- Every four years: California and Georgia.
Some states use one fixed deadline for everyone (Illinois renews April 30 of even years, Pennsylvania May 31 of even years, Wisconsin December 14 of even years). Others tie it to your license date or even your birthday, as Ohio does.
Topics most states require
Beyond the hour total, most states require specific courses. The most common are:
- Fair housing: required in states including New York, New Jersey, Oregon (since January 2026), Rhode Island, Missouri (2026–2028 core) and Virginia.
- Ethics: Florida, Iowa, Ohio, New Mexico, New York and Virginia, among others.
- A state law or legal update course: Texas Legal Update I and II, Connecticut License Law, Iowa Law Update, Georgia License Law.
- Implicit bias: California and New York.
- Agency and contracts: Nevada, Virginia, New Jersey and Minnesota.
Your first renewal is often different
Many states replace standard CE with post-license education for new agents. Florida requires 45 post-license hours before the first renewal, North Carolina 90 hours within 18 months, Texas 98 hours of SAE, Georgia 25 hours in the first year, and Illinois 45 hours. Other states simply waive CE for the first renewal, such as Colorado, North Dakota and Hawaii (for agents licensed in an even year).
Exemptions for experienced agents
A handful of states reduce or waive CE for long-time licensees. California exempts agents 70 or older with 30 continuous years licensed. Nevada offers a reduced requirement at 65 with 30 years, Mississippi exempts agents over 65 with 25 years, Ohio reduces it to 9 hours at 70, and South Carolina offers a partial exemption after 25 years.
For every state’s due date, see our real estate license renewal and CE deadlines by state.
Tips before you renew
- Use a provider approved by your state; out-of-state or unapproved courses usually don’t count.
- Check whether hours carry over. Most states don’t allow it, and those that do set limits (Iowa up to 18 hours, Mississippi up to 6, Ohio up to 10).
- Know how completions are reported. Some states receive them from your school; Arizona and others make you enter certificates yourself.
- Finish early. States such as Maryland and Connecticut set CE deadlines before the renewal date itself.
Common questions about real estate CE
How many CE hours do real estate agents need?
It depends on your state. Requirements range from 7 hours a year in Arkansas and West Virginia to 45 hours every four years in California and every three years in Wyoming. Most states fall between 12 and 30 hours per renewal.
Which states require the most real estate CE?
California and Wyoming require 45 hours per renewal. Georgia, Iowa, Nevada and New Mexico require 36 hours.
Which states require the least?
Arkansas and West Virginia require 7 hours a year, North Carolina requires 8 hours a year, and South Carolina requires 10 hours every two years.
Do new agents need CE for their first renewal?
Often not in the usual form. Many states replace or waive CE for the first renewal with post-license education, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Illinois and Alabama. Check your state's page for the exact rule.
Can I take real estate CE online?
In most states, yes, from a provider approved by your state. A few limit the format: Nevada, for example, requires at least 18 of its 36 hours to be taken through live instruction. Confirm with your state before you enroll.
What happens if I miss my CE deadline?
It varies. Some states let you renew inactive and finish later (North Carolina, Massachusetts, North Dakota), some charge late or delinquency fees (Missouri, New Jersey, Utah), and some cancel or suspend the license automatically (Kentucky, Ohio).
Find your state’s courses: pick your state in the table above to see its full CE requirements, official sources and approved online courses side by side.